Dangerous Wild Animals

In 2001, THLN was instrumental in passing HB 1362 which requires owners of dangerous wild exotic animals (such as lions, tigers, leopards, bears, great apes, etc.) to register those animals with their local animal control authority and provide those animals with housing and care in accordance with minimum standards set forth in the bill and the rules and regulations adopted thereunder. It also allows counties and municipalities to further regulate or totally ban the ownership of these animals. Prior to the passage of this legislation, several children were mauled and either killed or seriously injured by these animals primarily as a result of their irresponsible owners.